CHICAGO – “The Dark Knight Rises,” the final film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy with Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, and Joseph Gordon-Leviitt, opened with a stunning $160.9 million. While the opening was huge, it seems clear that the horrific shooting in Colorado last week did keep some viewers away as most journalists were predicting an opening closer to $200 million. The opening was nearly identical to “The Dark Knight” in total gross, however inflation and IMAX surcharges means that “The Dark Knight Rises” sold fewer tickets overall.

It seems like box office may have been hurt across the board as many films fell 50% or more from the previous weekend. Children’s movies are generally slow to fall but “Ice Age: Continental Drift” plummeted over 55%, but that was impressive compared to the stunning 69% that “The Amazing Spider-man” tumbled. It was all about Batman this weekend.

As for whether or not “The Dark Knight Rises” can climb to the overall gross levels of its predecessor (which made $533.3 million domestically after a $158.4 million opening), only time will tell. We shall see if viewers who missed out on the first weekend come out in the second frame and if the repeat value is the same. Whatever happens, $400 million domestically seems a virtual lock.

Next weekend sees the release of “The Watch” and “Step Up: Revolution.” In other words, expect “The Dark Knight Rises” to be number one for at least another weekend.

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CHICAGO – It is Chicago where New York City native Harry Wood is debuting his first play, entitled “Roast,” through The Comrades theater company at the Greenhouse Theater Center. The comic drama, about a gathering of stand up comics and relatives to “roast” – rather than eulogize – a deceased fellow comedian, is a World Premiere that runs through August 18th, 2019. For tickets and more information, click here.

CHICAGO – Kokandy Productions is one of the best in Chicago doing musicals, and scores again with “Head Over Heels,” through August 25th, 2019, at Theater Wit. For more details and tickets, click here.